REVIEW: Essence Longlasting Lipsticks

Hey my angels! Welcome back to my blog. If you're new here, hey! Nice to meet ya.
Alrighty, so today I'll be reviewing a few lipsticks by a drugstore brand called Essence. They're affordable, lightweight and ideal for girls on-the-go, who like only a wash of color on the lips which is subtle enough to be worn on an everyday basis.
However, I've found that these lippies can double up as a lip stain and a lipstick topper if worn over insanely matte liquid lipsticks.

So, Essence Cosmetics launched their new line of long lasting lipsticks a while ago. The fact that this brand is my ultra favourite one for nail colours and nail treatment therapy polishes, it was mandatory for me to try their lipsticks. You guys, I was not disappointed at all. To be honest, I was pleased to the extent that now I own six of these goodies. Now, onto the actual review.

The Packaging
So these lipsticks come in a nice and sophisticated, matte black standard casing. The case feels luxurious to the touch and definitely are not flimsy or of cheap quality. However, they don't come in a cardboard box that normal lipsticks come in, which in complete honesty is not a big issue for me. It also has a plastic ring at the centre of the casing which is different for every tube, corresponding to the colour of the actual lipstick. Once you open the lid, you reveal a perfect lipstick which has the 'e' logo embossed on the bullet. The applicator edge is perfectly cut to ensure you can go over your lips with precision. I must add that this edge remains sharp for a couple of uses, unlike many other lipsticks I've tried from the drugstore and/or high-end.

The Formula:
These lipsticks are semi-glossy/satin-finished once applied on the lips. They are sheer and not as highly pigmented. I mean obviously, you can't expect Mac's pigmentation from a product as cheap as this. It has a balmy feel once applied on the lips. It's incredibly light-weight on the lips and you don't even feel like you're wearing lipstick, because it almost feels like Baby Lips from Maybelline.
You know what? I kinda like the fact that they're sheer and buildable. You can go over the lipstick again and again to intensify the colour pay-off.
They're highly moisturizing and don't dry out the lips at all. Neither do they accentuate dryness or lines on the lips. So kudos to essence for that!
The lipsticks aren't as long-lasting, though. For me, the colour stays on for about 2-3 hours without eating or drinking.
These lippies are perfect for teenagers out there. The colours are playful and girly, yet not too loud or bold that they'll look nasty on young girls.

The Shades/Colours:

01 Coral Calling
As the name may explain itself, it's a nice orangey, peachy pink colour. It's an okay-ish colour for me. I think it'll suit much paler/lighter complexions out there. On my darker girls, I suggest you skip on this colour as I think it'll look sickly and sorta dirty. But if you apply one thin layer, I think it would look good because then, it wouldn't be as in-your-face.
In my opinion, it's a perfect summery go-to shade for lighter skinned girls.

04 On the Catwalk!
Looking out for a lipcolor that makes a statement like red but isn't as overpowering? Well then see no further because this is what awaits for you. This is a light red with dark pink undertones, to the extent that it looks like a really pretty your lips but darker and brighter kinda colour.
Definitely would suit any skin-tone.
It's a must-have​ for me atleast. It's just perrrrrfect!

06 Barely There!
As the name suggests, it's a perfect your lips but better sort of a colour. Once you apply it, it doesn't even show as if your lips are covered in lipstick. It's one of the prettiest nudes that I have. It's just that perfect kind of nude which is suitable to be worn on an everyday basis to give just a tiny tint of color or with an intense smokey eye where your lips have to be understated. If you don't own this colour, I highly highly urge you to. It is an exact dupe to Mac's Half and Half.
It's an ideal combo of brown and pink with a slightly mauvy, Kylie Jenner kinda undertone. Can it be any better?!

09 Wear Berries!
A really beautiful and girly pink colour. It's a pretty blue-undertonal vivid pink. Ideally a very spring-appropriate colour. If you're into wearing alot of girly pinks, you surely wouldn't want to miss this one out.
Also I've noticed, it can make your teeth appear whiter, so that's a plus.

03 Dare to Wear
It is a sheerer and a semi-glossy dupe to Mac's Ruby Woo. It's a deep brick red with blue undertones. Perfect for every skin-tone, in my opinion. This stuff is definitely not for the faint-hearted ones!

15 Oh So Matt!
I'd suggest you pass this one out. It's the most pathetic lipstick I own. Super pale, concealer-looking and slippy. Yikes! Also this is so pigmented and matte that you'll always overdo it. Also the formula of this lipstick is very different than the others. It's an extremely pale pink nude which is meant for porcelain beauties. I'd you're even more than NC-15 at Mac, don't even think of getting this. You'll be in regrets.

Availability
These lippies are available at any essence makeup counter. It isn't a brand which you'll have trouble with finding. If you live in Islamabad, D'Watson carries Essence's makeup. These lipsticks retail for PKR 430 each.

REVIEW: MAYBELLINE MASCARAS (Four of 'em)

Hey my divas! Welcome back to my blog. Okay, so today what I'm reviewing is very close to my heart. I feel like a good mascara can absolutely change the look of your eyelashes and hence your eyes. For me, a perfect mascara should build on volume without getting clumpy, should lengthen my otherwise limpy eyelashes and should hold on the curl of my lash. If a mascara does that for me, I'm good-to-go!

ALL the mascaras that I've tried from Maybelline are really good. And if somebody asks me "Which mascara clan are you in, Maybelline, Covergirl or L'oreal?", I would without a a doubt say Maybelline! Their mascaras are close to perfection. For you all, I'm going to be reviewing four of them right now. Each one has specific characteristics and what I call 'super-powers' and I leave it to you to find your perfect match.

The Rocket Volume Express
This is my favourite mascara in the whole universe. Definitely my ride-or-die. I love this one, to the point that I keep repurchasing it once it gets over. I'm on my ninth tube of this goodness.
It has a massive jet-glide shaped brush, as they like to call it. But it's just a nice, gigantic silicone brush with lots of minute bristles to really work through every tiny lash. The brush looks a little like Benefit's They're Real Mascara. The formula of this mascara is magical. It's unicorn goodness for me. It catches every single baby lash of mine and builds on intense volume making them look a thousand times thicker, blacker and voluminous than they actually are. However I don't think it does a good job in the lengthening part. But that isn't an issue for me because my lashes are long, just not thick.
One coat of this, superb! Two coats, MAGIC! Three coats, just on point spidery eyelashes which are so in vogue these days.
Definitely get this one if you can. It's a STUNNER!
I'd give it a 5/5.

The Falsies Volume Express
As the name suggests, it's a nice buildable mascara which give you a false lash effect. However, it didn't work for me that great. It does provide volume and depth but doesn't multiply your lashes to give it a falsies-effect. I did observe, however, that it really helps to fan out the lashes. But I think Maybelline has gone a little over-board in naming this one. It's a pretty good mascara, though.
It's brush is an ordinary mascara wand but with a light curvature. When you wiggle the spoon-feeding side across your lashline, it builds alot of drama and volume. The curvature helps to curl your lashes slightly. I've  also noticed that it lengthens the lash hair nicely, too.
So I'd suggest if you have fairly thick lashes which are stunted and grow straight, this mascara might become your holy grail.
I'd give it a 4.5/5.

The One by One Volume Express
A nice mascara to keep. Has a really cool bristly, comby silicone mascara wand that really separates and coats each individual lash. It's more of a lengthening mascara in my opinion, since it doesn't really volumize or thicken the lashes.
It's good for people who are born with naturally gorgeous lashes and just need a little bit of drama and pigment to accentuate them. Also, if your lashes are a little unruly and grow all over the place, I think it's a great one to choose because of its great separating powers.
I'd give it a 3.5/5.

The Great Lash
One of the very first mascaras that Maybelline ever created. It has a normal kind of a wand, not too special in any way. It builds onto lashes, intensifies, gives a tiny bit of volume and holds the curl of your lash.
Apart from that, the main issue of this mascara is how drying it is to the lashes. I observed flaking and itsy bitsy mascara clinging onto my under-eyes once it dries off. I also observed that I lose alot of eyelash hairs in it's removal which was a complete turn off.
However if you're in search of a pocket-friendly mascara, this maybe the one you're trying to find.
I'd give it a 2.5/5.

Availability
All of these mascaras are available at any Maybelline counter. The volume express mascars retail for PKR 995-1050 each, depending onto the retailer. While, the Great Lash is for PKR 445.

I hope this review was helpful to you in any way, shape or form. Have a good day!

10 Ways to be More Confident.

Confidence, to me, is so personal. It's about how you feel from the inside and then what you showcase to the world. When you actually feel good, is the time when you start exhibiting how you're feeling, in your actions.
So today I'm going to be giving you ten tips on how you can boost your confidence level and show-off as a self-assured person to others. Some things are those that you can do right now and away, while some would need some extra work and conscious effort from your side. So we'll start off with the easy ones.

1. Sit Straight
Yes friends. Keeping your back straight is so important. And hell yes, I'm guilty of always​ having a slouchy posture, too, but I'm trying. It wasn't long ago that I was going through an article about good body postures. In it, they explained how slouching over is such a defeated pose. Whereas, if you're​ sitting straight and open, people perceive you as a much confident individual. They would want to talk to you more often and hence you'll have more chances of making friends.
So the next time, you see yourself stooping your head out of your shoulders, remind yourself to sit taller. You'll seem more self-assertive!

2. Exercise
I feel as I've grown older, my reason for exercising and getting into physical activity has changed drastically. Initially, I used to exercise to become thin and have a slim waist and lean legs, because society told me to look like a particular being. Whereas now, exercising to me is just letting my toxins out through sweat. Trust me, now I don't even get tired after exercise as I used to in the past. Now I feel much more energized and confident. And you are what you feel, right? So if you're more of a couch potato and don't really exercise and stuff, please do. You'll feel great!

3. Compliment Yourself
This will do wonders. Go, stand infront of a mirror. See what you hate about yourself. Look closely. Did you find something? You will, I'm sure. Is this something you're least proud of out of your appearance? Start appreciating it. In no time you'd be more accepting towards your flaws. Once you accept them, people around you will be no-one to to tell you how bad your flaws make you seem. You'd stop caring about people's opinions. Always remember, that your opinions about yourself are the only opinions that matter.

4. Compliment Others
It feels so good, you guys! Trust me. This also ensures that you are more on the giving side, rather than taking. It shows your generosity and bigheartedness. Also, this makes others feel good about themselves which make them happy. And seeing others happy makes you happy which heaves your self-esteem and confidence.
So the next time you meet someone, always make sure to give them an admiring remark. It works wonders.

5. Explore your Talents
Do what you can, to know what you can do. Not only does it make you a useful person but knowing you're capable of doing something in life, can greatly improve your confidence level.

6. Be Yourself
The world is in dire need of YOU. I keep saying this, I knowww. But man, I'm serious. Your journey to confidence starts  when you decide to be yourself. You don't have to be pretentious. You just don't need to.

7. Surround Yourself with Positive People
People who appreciate you for what you're doing, these are the kind of people you want to be with. You guys, appreciation plays such a vital role in shaping you as a person and retaining self-assurance. And getting it from the people you're around and close to, brings that bar of confidence a thousand notches up. So the next time, you sit with someone who literally makes you feel like a more empowered person, don't let them go. Ever.

8. Write a Journal.
Record everything you do. Good, bad, worst. EVERYTHING. Two, three maybe ten, twenty years down the road, when you open that journal and flip some pages back, you'll realize how you've grown as a person. It'll be such a pumper for your confidence, in the long run. You might thank me.

9. Work towards Self-improvement.
To be very honest, I believe that you can take the horse to water but can't make it drink it. No body can enhance what you already have, until youre not willing to. Observe yourself, maybe microscopically, see what your shortcomings are, what makes you lag behind and work towards improving them. Knowing that you tried working towards achieving something is better than life long regrets, believe or not.

10. Smile.
If you don't do any of the above, just do this. Not only will you feel positive but also, people will percieve you as much positive and self-assured person. They start liking you more because there are supposedly much less people who are confident enough to show off their beautiful smiles. Remember, happy people are the most attractive ones!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. If you did, make sure to lemme know in the comments section down below. I'd love to know if you have any tips to fuel self-confidence. Drop them in the comments section, too.
Good Bye and of course, Good Luck!

Isolate, Ponder, then Repeat.

Salute fellas! Hope you're doing well.
So, today I thought why not write about something I highly, highly believe in. To the extent, that now I do it as a daily ritual. You people won't believe, that the day I forget doing it, I feel like I am missing on an essential part of myself. I'm just so used to it. And, here's why....

I'm a firm creditor of giving yourself some 'me-time' out of the twenty four hours God has blessed you with. It may even be as short as seven minutes or as long as thirty; it is entirely up to you. But make sure that you do. I cannot stress enough on how important it is to get a breather from the world's ongoing. You need time to think, to cogitate and to meditate. You all NEED it. It isn't vanity. It's a requirement. Something that you HAVE to do, to carry on with the rest of your daily activities, effectively.

Your heart, mind, body and soul need time to rejuvenate. To relax. To renew. To freshen, regenerate and restore all of their powers. All of their energies. All of their capabilities. They all need time to breathe. To expel all the negativities they behold. A heart that feels, a mind that thinks, a body that moves and soul that fervors are the greatest gifts you've got from Him. The problem is, that all these things are like a machine, that works hand in hand. If you keep using this machine without a break, it may dismember into fragments, without you even realizing it. You know, what happens then? That machine never gets repaired, ever. The adverse outcome of this, is you feeling strangely. Stress, anxiety, depression etc. are all the aftermath of this. All you're left to do is to fight with these and in turn, yourself!

Therefore, I say, meditate! 'Meditate'. Such a fancy word, isn't it? Do you picture a woman sitting on a yoga mat with her eyes closed, legs crossed and hands placed on her thighs, breathing in and out, the moment you hear the word 'meditate'? I'd be honest, at least that's what I used to think of, the moment I'd hear this word. This was when I didn't know the true meaning of meditation. Meditation is spending your time in quiet thought. And that's it. It may even be in the comfort of your bedroom or in a garden, encircled by nature. Anywhere you feel peaceful and secluded and alone. Just a little time to be with yourself and only yourself!

But what to do once you're isolated and away from the cacophony of the world? The answer is, do whatever you like. Leave your smartphone aside and think. It may be as silly as 'why am I wearing different socks on both my feet?' to as deep as 'why is the universe infinite?' If you aren't a much of a "closing your eyes and deeply thinking" sort of a person, do what makes you happy. I think by now, half of the world knows my way of meditation. And that is, painting my nails! Yes, peeps. I'm not kidding. I de-stress as the brush of the nail paint glides seamlessly on the surface of my nails. It may be weird to you but it totally works for me. For some of you it might be watering plants in your garden or baking something or maybe, assembling your wardrobe. Just doing something that allows you enough time to unwind and loosen up a bit can make a world of a difference.

If doing something makes you feel revived, recharged and resuscitated, congratulations! Because you've just found your own, distinct way of meditation. Once you've discovered it, stick to it. Do it daily. Revive your energies, good or bad. Let your entire self let out the toxins it beholds. Don't let it build up inside you to the point that it gets suffocating. Don't let anything or anyone come into your happiness. Let it all out. Breathe.
It will be a conscious effort for a day or two, or even week. But in no time, it'll become a habit. You'd just know the exact thing to do, to make you feel alive and more like yourself. Now you'd be ready to deal with humanity, again.

Good Luck!👍

REVIEW: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

As much as I love putting on makeup on my face, you might be surprised to know that I absolutely hate taking it all off. Removing makeup, is one of my least favorite tasks ever. I find it extremely annoying, tedious and the most boring thing ever.
Back in the day, my favourite method of removing makeup was, to take a generous amount of coconut oil in the palm of my hand and gently massage it all over the face. Then I'd take a mueslin cloth, wet it in some warm water, squeeze and place it on my face for about ten seconds. The steam from the cloth helped to open up  pores and melt every residue of makeup clung in them. It also provides the perfect amount of emollients to slip the makeup right off without tugging or rubbing so hard. This still tops of the list of my favorite makeup removal methods.
On my lazy days, I would use the ever-so-famous makeup removing wipes by Neutrogena. It used to do a good job and
I was happy using them.
It wasn't long ago that I got my hands on a revolutionary product called The Micellar Water, and I couldn't wait to give it a shot. Since it was also something my aunt was raving about and was comparing to the H2O (Micellar Water) by BioDerma, I obviously had to try it out. You guys, I must say, I am not disappointed. But does this stuff live up to the hype? Read along to find out!

This product claims that it removes makeup, cleanses and soothes. It's safe to use on the face, eyes and lips. It is hypoallergenic, free of alcohol, perfume and parabens. It says that you don't even need to rinse your face post usage. It's meant for all skin types, even sensitive. It promises that the micells( micelle: a unit of structure built up from polymeric molecules or ions) capture makeup, impurities and pollution like magnets.
At least this is what it says on the bottle it comes in.

The Packaging:
This stuff comes in a standard, hard and clear plastic bottle. It's cover is pink and has a lid. Once you lift the lid, you see a perfect size of hole to get just the right quantity of this liquid. This product is deceiving, though. It is clear and looks exactly like water. But if you shake the bottle slightly, some bubbles appear on the surface hinting that it isn't plain water.
It comes in two sizes. One contains 125ml of the water and claims that it'll last you for up to 60 uses. The other one is a bigger bottle which contains 400ml of product which should last you for up to 200 uses.

The Product:
This stuff is really revolutionary. Imagine a few drops of water removing gunk from your face! Isn't it weird?
I like to take two cotton rounds/balls and saturate them with this stuff and place them on my eyes for about ten seconds. This really helps down to break down makeup bits so it slides right off of your face. I must say that it removes every trace of eyeshadow, mascara and eyeliner. Even gel eyeliner comes off like a dream, with no rubbing or tugging at your skin, whatsoever. However, I did notice that it isn't as effective for taking off waterproof mascara. I had to go over with the cotton a couple of times to remove even the last residue of it. The pro is that it doesn't burn the eyes at all. So thumbs up for that!

For the rest of the face, I'd usually flip those same cotton rounds the other way and use it all over my face. I wouldn't lie, it does a pretty impressive job.
It removes foundation, concealer, even the most stubborn liquid lipstick, just everything! But I must add that even though it removes everything, it still doesn't give you that squeaky clean feeling. I'd rather go ahead and use a face wash to be extra sure that my skin is clean and clear. If you're not a squeaky-clean feeling fan, you're at liberty to go ahead with another clean cotton round with the Micellar water to douse off every last bit of makeup leftovers. Post that, you should be good to go!
I didn't observe my skin breaking out or this stuff making my skin extra dry, to the extent that it leaves dry patches of rough skin, like normal makeup removing cleansers do. I think this thing is awesome for all skin types. From teens to oldies, all can benefit from this product.
You may also use it to remove dirt from your face and neck after a long day. It feels so refreshing, like a fresh breath of air.
Not to mention, I've also been using it to clean any makeup fallouts on the cheek and perfecting my winged eyeliner with a Q-tip. It works amazing for that too.
Pro tip: It can be used as a brush cleaner if you're in a rut.

Availability:
This Micellar water by Garnier is available in almost all departmental stores, supermarkets and cosmetic counters all over Pakistan. I bought it from D'Watson in Islamabad. The small bottle costs PKR 199 and the larger bottle costs PKR 499, which isn't a bad deal at all.
Now you guys know how I like to bring my basic arithmetic skills into use. Here is the breakdown:-
If you buy the small bottle, you merely spend Rs.3.00 per use. And if you have the bigger bottle, you barely spend Rs.2.50 per use. Which means that the larger bottle is slightly more cost-effective.

My thoughts:
I really like this stuff. I would totally rebuy it once it's over. I'll give it a 4.25/5. I cut the 0.75 mark just because I need to go over with my face wash. If that hadn't been so much of an issue for me, it was definitely a 4.5/5.
Btw, I think it absolutely is worth the hype!

You Deserve, Nothing!

Hey friends! I hope you all are doing well and indeed had a very meethi Eid. I'm so sorry that I couldn't keep up with my blog in the Eid days. Y'all know how you get invited to family feasts during these days. And trust me, all I was doing was stuffing my belly with every Eid delicacy I could get my hands on. There are chances I might have to shed some extra pounds than before. Phew! All the things you do post Eid!
I missed y'all so much. Now, onto the actual post. (I've recently noticed that my intros are usually so out of context, but what can I possibly do? I am such a chatterbox. You know that, right?)

While I was getting dressed for Eid, a thought struck through my mind. I thought of how God is kind enough to let me wear that ivory coloured gharara outfit that I handsdown, got obsessed with, the moment I saw a mannequin adorned in it.
I immediately went down the memory lane trying to remember something I might have done in the few previous days for which I might have gotten that attire of my dreams, as a reward. I pondered hard, but to no avail. I couldn't think of anything. Not even one deed I had done, which was worthy of getting me the outfit that I liked so much. I looked inside my wardrobe and discovered tonnes of beautiful clothes, hung in allignment and my rack of footwear, had my ever-so-loved collection of shoes that I've been stocking on for a few years now. I opened my drawer of my dearly makeup stash, something with which I've had a love relationship since the beginning of time. It's always been the most beautiful sight I've ever seen- my makeup. Aaahhh! I might me sounding a little crazy to you guys but y'all know how makeup gives me feelings of ecstasy. Right?

I went to the breakfast table and saw an array of breakfast kickshaws neatly arranged in the axis of it. Now because I'm not the one who'd devour in the sheer khurma stuff, I poured myself a cup of tea and headed to my room. I perched onto the edge of the bed, lowered my back to buckle up my sandals and suddenly, epiphany hit me. I considered of thinking about something that I might have done, for which God had bestowed me with stuff, materialistic or not, as a prize. I thought hard, but couldn't come up with anything. I tried figuring out the truth behind my possessions being mine, my controls staying with me, my blessings walking down to me, even though my subordinate-self doesn't deserve even a piece of it. I wondered if all of this that I had; clothes to wear and fill my wardrobe with, shoes to decorate and save my feet from getting dirty, delish food to devour into and endless other things I can never even think of, do I deserve them? DO I DESERVE THEM?

The answer came, "NO! YOU DON'T!", from the corner of my head somewhere. That taught me a lesson. I learnt, that all that you have, had or will get, is not because you deserve them or have EARNED them. They're with you because God is kind enough to bestow them on you. God doesn't owe you to bless you in the best way possible. You have everything because He loves you enough to grant your wishes. You aren't deserving and never will, in any way. It is Him who's treasures are affluent enough to entitle you with everything and anything that you ever desired for. The things that you have aren't yours. They belong to God, and forever will. They're just with you for safekeeping. It's just that He's kind enough to let you make use of them. And share them, with the less fortunate ones. Hearken, you're fortunate only because He wanted you to be. You never merited this for yourself.

Moral of the "story" is, keeping on thanking God for whatever you have. I urge you to say a big ALHAMDULILLAH right now and away.
And as always, Good Luck!